Wow! We've accomplished so much during these last four months! I can't believe it's already time for winter break! I'm proud of the 5th and 6th graders for not only their academic growth and achievements, but what they've done to give back to the community and world. Today Superintendent Valerie Browning with present the 6th graders with $500 from the local Rotary Club to donate to Water for South Sudan! That puts us to just over $4,000 raised! Our goal is still $5,000 by the end of the year so we can officially sponsor a well, and we're close! Thank you to students and parents for all the effort you've put into fundraising. We'll do something in the spring to raise the last of our funds.
Fifth graders participated in Scholastic Book Club's Pajama Drive. For every pair of pajamas donated, Scholastic will donate a book to the Pajama Program. Fifth graders donated 45 pairs!!
Our academic accomplishments include completing units of study around the theme topics JOURNEY and FEAR for fifth graders, and CRUSADERS and TYRANTS for sixth graders. Students have learned how to find evidence to support claims, written creative stories around fractured tales and myths, read many books around theme topics and independently, presented book talks, written countless summary response letters over independent books, worked with partners and groups on various projects, and continue to work towards meeting the 50 Book Challenge (several students have already met it)! Some students participated in the Mock Newbery Club. Here are the club's picks for the winners:
Honors:
Lots of Honorable Mentions:
Even though we have accomplished a lot, we have a lot more to go! One way we could end 2013 on a strong note is to make goals for reading over the holiday break. I have some goals! I want to read the books students gave me for Christmas gifts, read a couple of ARCs (Advanced Reader's Copies) I received at the NCTE Convention in Boston, start my LONG January book club book (Donna Tartt's Goldfinch) and finish up some audio books. That adds up to about 8 books I want to complete over break. What are YOUR reading goals? Parents and students, I'd love to hear them in the comments below!
Have a wonderful, restful break, and I'll see you in January 2014!
